Local musicians pay homage to David Bowie and Elvis Presley tonight (Saturday, 1/5/19) at Splice Records’ annual BowiElvis Fest, held at The Continental Club in Houston.

From the label:

The festival is our best attempt at honoring the shared birthdays of rock legends David Bowie and Elvis Presley, two of the most loved and influential artists of the previous century. True characters and legends of rock n’ roll. The music goes all night on two different stages featuring multiple local and regional up-and-coming bands from the surrounding areas. We love showcasing local talent that want to honor the two icons by mixing their sets with cover songs from both artists along with their originals tunes. We have a “Oh You Pretty Things” costume/fashion contest, which encourages all to come out in their best costumes. We have themed games, themed food, Bowie Face painting and an appearance by heralded burlesque troupe, the Dem Damn Dames. It is a wild night that we plan to do twice in two amazing cities and it is all about the preservation of rock n’ roll!

Stay Out Late, the band’s fifth release, finds the band in a mellow and reflective mood.?The depth of songwriting–a mature band honing its craft–is evidenced with repeated listens, and the album shows Buxton solidly finding its own voice.

More information on Buxton may be found at www.buxtonband.com. You can purchase Stay Out Late at Houston area record stores and online.

Music legend Johnny Marr plays in Houston tonight (Thursday, October 11th) at White Oak Music Hall. Marr, former guitarist of an all-time favorite band of mine–The Smiths–is touring in support of his recent solo album, Call The Comet.

Hometown heroes The Suffers celebrate the release of Everything Here — which is available today (Friday, 7.13.18) — with a pair of sold-out shows at Houston’s Heights Theater (last night and tonight).

The band is still touring pretty much constantly, gaining new fans and good press along the way.

You can stream the new album on NPR Music’s First Listen?and purchase it online here (or here) and at local record stores — including Cactus Music. The band plays an in-store performance at Cactus tomorrow afternoon (Saturday, 7.14.18) at 1pm. You can get a wristband for the sure-to-be-slammed show by purchasing Everything Here at Cactus Music today.

Additionally, today is officially The Suffers Day in Houston, as Mayor Sylvester Turner recently presented the band with an official proclamation.

Relationship albums can be tricky. On the one hand, emotional pain often results in beautiful work; on the other, the ensuing drama can distract listeners from the intended experience. On Look Together (New West Records) – its first in four years and the first since the break-up of bandmates and former IRL couple Cody Swann and Zahira Gutierrez – Houston-based Wild Moccasins deftly avoids the latter pitfall with its most accomplished and accessible album to date.

Gutierrez takes center stage, and any of her past vocal weaknesses have disappeared. Throughout Look Together, she infuses elements of eighties songstresses Liz Fraser and Kate Bush with hints of Belinda Carlisle and Deborah Harry to create a seductive and inescapable aura.?As on the band’s previous efforts, Swann’s contributions should not be overlooked or understated. Handling guitar and background vocals – in addition to writing lyrics or contributing to each song on the album?– his riffs and solos punctuate the songs at the perfect times, and with a subtle perfection.

The band makes no secret that its new album is a document of the couple dealing with the end of their decade-long relationship, and?“No Muse” is the album’s most searing take: “I’m no use to you, unless I’m undressed / I’m no muse to you / you cut me in two, unless I say yes…and you can sing about it all you want,” Gutierrez sings.

In less-skilled hands – or a younger Wild Moccasins, even – the album’s heavy emotions could easily outweigh the music.?Look Together pulses with heavy doses of synth-pop, fuzzy guitars, and infectious hooks; it’s an extremely catchy album. However, the emotional current running through the album’s songs are the focus, and?the maturity and strength that allowed Swann and Gutierrez to tour together for two years almost immediately after breaking up definitely shows through. Look Together is proof that their songwriting-as-therapy has served the duo well.

The inaugural Great Texas BBQ Fest is this weekend (May 19 & 20, 2018) at Post HTX on the edge of downtown Houston. The event features a solid line-up, including Houston’s Buxton, John Egan, The Suffers, A Fistful of Soul, Will Van Horn Trio, Mike Stinson, Ancient Cat Society, The Mighty Org, along with Craig Kinsey, Morris Day & The Time (for real…), Dawes, Old 97’s, Lucero, Junior Brown, Wanda Jackson, and more.

You can also get a ton of Texas BBQ and other libations, as BBQ teams will be competing during the event and selling BBQ at the fest as well. Tickets are available at www.thegreattexasbbqfestival.com.

Local musician Arthur Yoria, a long-time favorite here at Houston Calling, is celebrating the release of his long-awaited new album–After You–with an album release show this Saturday (March 31, 2018) at the Mucky Duck.

The album, released by local label Splice Records, was recorded at Sugar Hill Studios.